Harshada Rege (DNA; May 22, 2015)

After producing back-to-back hits and directing one of the biggest hits last year, Sajid Nadiadwala is all set for his next film to go on floors. The project – Baaghi — will have the Heropanti actor-director team — Tiger Shroff and Sabbir Khan— coming together once again. There was a lot of speculation about who will play the female lead opposite Tiger.

In the running
While many girls in the industry were eyeing the role, it’s Shraddha Kapoor who has bagged the part. It was rumoured that newbie Divya Patani had been cast opposite Tiger. The girl was to debut with Karan Johar’s production No Sex Please, which never took off. She was then chosen for Ekta Kapoor’s project Vanity Fair. But that, too, was shelved. And then, she lost Baaghi as well.

Star launcher
In the recent past, Sajid has been investing a lot in young talent. He gave Tiger and Kriti Sanon a mega launchpad with Heropanti which went on to become a huge success. It’s not surprising then that youger actors are vying to work with him. Before Heropanti, Sabbir had directed Kambakkht Ishq starring Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor. This will be his third project with Sajid. And like Heropanti, they have yet again opted for a fresh pair. It will be very interesting to see Tiger and Shraddha in the film.

Luck factor
Shraddha’s had a streak of hits at the box-office with Vishesh Films’ Aashiqui 2, Balaji’s Ek Villain and Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider. There are great expectations from her next, UTV’s ABCD 2 as well. Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and UTV’s Baaghi, which will be an intense love story is due to release April 15, 2016 and will will be set in a metropolis, is expected to be high on action. Sabbir has clarified that it it will be an original script and not a remake of the Salman Khan-Nagma film, as earlier speculated. He had also said that he would be looking for a new face for Baaghi.

Signing this movie is a great move for Shraddha. It gives her the opportunity to form a jodi with a new actor and also lets her work with a hit-making team.